How to Lower Your Budget and Save Money

In these tight economic times saving even a little money on daily expenses can be a tremendous help. Here are some tips on saving money that everyone can do.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• determination
• see individual steps you choose to use

1. Use old socks and t-shirts for dusting and other rag uses instead of buying disposable dusting cloths or store-bought rags.
2. Make your own cleaning products using vinegar, lemon juice and such. You can also get a product called Basic H2 from Shaklee that is concentrated (so it lasts a long time and ends up saving money) and has tons of uses, plus it's environmentally friendly.
3. Buy food in bulk, but don't eat in bulk. Bulk food can bring needed savings, but if you don't watch out you'll tend to eat more because you have so much. It's important to plan when you buy in bulk. It's helpful to repackage the food into smaller containers so when you take it off the shelf it looks normal size. Budget your bulk food and you will truly save grocery dollars.
4. Keep lights off if no one is in the room and use energy efficient bulbs. Make use of natural light when possible. Think about whether you need light or not. Sometimes turning on the light can be habit. If kids have trouble remembering to turn off lights think of a reward you could give if the electric bill comes in below a certain amount, then teach them what can help save electricity.
5. Experiment with store brands. Don't let a bad experience with a store brand that just wasn't as good as your normal brand scare you off. There will be some items that the store brand won't make your grade, but there will be others that could.
6. Save energy by making good use of your oven and stove top. Make large meals and freeze portion sizes (or family meal sizes) in the inexpensive Ziploc containers. These containers can be washed and reused many times and stack neatly to keep space requirements down. Reheat in the microwave. If each time you cook a meal you make even twice as much you'll save nearly half the energy. Cook this way for a week, you'll have a week's worth of meals ready to go without repeating the same dish too soon and save time in the kitchen too!
7. Shop at places where you have to buy your own bags (Aldi, Shop 'n Save, etc.) and DON'T buy bags. Take your own or watch for nearly empty display boxes that you can neatly replace on top of the next box and use to take your purchases home. Added bonus is that you're helping the environment!
8. Plan meals carefully. Plan them around more affordable foods rather than just pulling out a recipe that looks good. Plan for meals that will freeze well and supplement them with a little fresh fruits. You can plan for a week at a time or a month at a time to get the variety that your family wants.
9. Wash and reuse zipper bags and foil. You may snicker, but it saves a lot of money. I knew someone who washed as reused plastic wrap! It just depends on how much you really need to save. It's not recommended to reuse anything that had raw meat in it. Use wisdom and clean it well. I use a dishrag with fresh soap and water, wiping each inside surface of zipper bags. Then I wash my other dishes.
10. Make a full pot of coffee. Even if you won't drink a whole pot, make a whole pot and refrigerate the leftovers, microwaving a cup at a time as needed. If you don't let it sit on a burner then it's like fresh when reheated (unless you're just particular about coffee, then ignore this one and make use of the others, no harm no foul).
11. Use the back of junk mail and other paper that is printed on only one side for note paper. Cut it in thirds for a manageable size or cut it to fit a note paper holder that you have. Here again is another environmentally friendly idea.
12. Remember the old saying:
    Use it up!
    Wear it out!
    Make it do!
    Do without!